Shelf structure



Jan. 8 1924. 1,480,345

H. L. BRADLEY SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8 192.4. 1,480,345

H. L. BRADLEY SHELF STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 20, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jfrcoeflltov Er /'5 I .Bv adleg Patented Jan. 15,1924.

able shelf structure embodied in my inven To whom units thereof.

' mounted therebetween. 4

UNITED STATES nmnr 1.. 3mm, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, sssrenoa or emu-um TO 'Lmr. I nmmr, or MILWAUKEE, w'rsconsm.

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Application filed February 20, 1920. se rlal No. 360384;.

Be it known that I, HARRY L. BRADLEY, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelf Structures; and. I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, description thereof. i

My invention relates to new and useful and exact improvements in shelf structures, more particularly of that type comprising a'tier of superposed shelfunits which are vertically adjustable to vary the distance between the shelf units in accordance with thedesired conditions of use of the shelf structure, the

present structure being more particularlyadapted for use in factories or. other places to carry a diversified stock of supply parts or other articles, the shelving requirements of which might vary from time to time.

It is in general the object of my invention to simplify and otherwise improve the structure and'to increase the efliciency and con-. venience of manipulation of devices of this character in setting up. or adjusting the It is more particularly my object to provide a shelf structure which may be formed of stock angle iron and wooden parts, and wherein the angle iron parts form the means for adjustable assembl of the shelf struc ture, as well as strengthen the wooden shelf parts and shield the ed e portions thereof.

A further object resi es in the provision of an arrangement wherein the structure of the shelf units'aifords a means for detachably mounting partition walls therebetween.

With the above'andother objects and advantages in view, my invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and'particularlypointed out in the appended claims. a

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of the adjustlongitudinally through a pair of. adjacent shelf units and showing the partitions transversely through a pair of connected shelf structures, and showing the means for securing said structures together.

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing longi tudinal partition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I provide a pair of vertical supthe horizontal flanges of a pair of end'angle iron sections 8 by bolts or other securing means 9, the vertical flanges of said end sections 8 extending downwardly. Bolts 10 are passed through these downwardly extending flanges and selectively engageable in series of openings '6 of the supports 5 whereby to adjustably mount the shelf unit at a desired elevation. The horizontal flanges of the longitudinal angle irons 7 form seats for the shelf boards of the shelf units, while the vertical flanges prevent displacement laterally of the shelf, and in the present instance the body of each shelf unit 1s formed-by a series of shortboards 11 extending transversely of the shelf, with their ends seating on the angle iron flanges and PATEN'TP oar-lea.

. v Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view'taken 'zontal flanges'being secured at their ends to in substantially abutting relation to the vertical flanges. The thickness of the shelf boarding is such that its top surface issubstantially' flush with the upper edges of the angle irons 7 and thus an even surface is provided for the shelf, and the vertical flanges of the angle irons shield the edges of the boarding to prevent possible chipping and wear thereof.

By using a plurality of short transverse shelf board sections, I am enabled to employ a cheap grade of lumber and I eliminate all dangerof'inefiiciency of the shelf structure incidental to warping. The spaces between these transverse shelf board sections also afford seating recesses for the edges of the partition wall plate 12 which may be inserted between the shelf units, and

- the meeting edges of theboard sections may ad ustable support of the shelf'units and serving to brace. and shield the wooden shelf parts. Should a single shelf board be employed for each shelf unit, the angle irons 7 afford edge braces for the board. and the ends of the board. if of suflicient width, may

seat on the transverse angle iron sections 8'.

The shelf structures formed by the pairs of wall boards 5 and their attached shelf units are preferably connected together. in pairs to provide a sufliciently stable base to prevent tilting and thus render such structures self-supporting. The vertical sides of adjacent longitudinal angle-irons 7 of the.

units form the means for such connection of the shelf structures and bolts 14 are passed through said vertical angle-iron sides. This-arrangement may be utilized to provide structures having a relatively great shelf width, or, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, vertical partition boards 15 may be interposed between the shelf structures, the bolts 14 passing through said boards and serving to secure them in place. When an uninterrupted transverse width of shelving is desired. the adjacent longitudinal angle-irons 7 of the shelf units are disposed in positive abutment and the flush relation of the shelf-board surfaces and upper edges of the longitudinal angle-irons 7 provides an unbroken expanse of shelf surface in this wider structure. When the supports for the shelf ends are in the form of wall plates or boards as shown, the end members 8 of the shelf unit provide a reinforcement for such 'walls, materially strengthening the same, particularly when the walls are made of wood, and by securing the end members 8 at a plurality of points, any splitting tendencies Which might occur in the wall boards would be prevented by this reinforcing action. By forming the metallic members of my shelf structure of simple stock angle iron, I provide an exceedingly compact and readily assembled structure, as described. and inasmuch as the only operations necessary in the manufacture of said boards resides in cutting the same and boring them for the bolt holes, extremely flexible conditions of manufacture are afforded, since the shelf units may be made of any desired length or width without requiring any change whatever in the manufacturing equipment. asmuch as the longitudinal angle iron members employed are of relatively light metal, having a flange width approximating-thickness of the shelf board members, the shelf space of my structure is entirely unobstructed, and when the shelves are set up in use and painted, the shelf units present the casual appearance of simple board members extending between the wall supports.

lVhi-le I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be appreciated that various changes and modifications of structure may be employed, to meet different conditions of use and manufacture, without departing in any manner from the spirit of my invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as my inventiomis:

1. Ashelfstructure comprising end supports, a plurality of shelf units ea"h comprising longitudinal angle iron sections extending between andcarried by said end supports and having their flanges extending respectively upwardly and inwardly and a series of transversely extending shelf boards having their ends seated on'the inwardly extending flanges and confined between the upwardlv extending flanges, cer-' tain of said shelf boards defining seating recesses therebetween, and partition members extending between the shelf units and hav ing their edges engaged in saidrecesses.

2. A .shelf structure comprising end supports. a plurality of shelf units each comprising longitudinal. angle iron sections extending between and. carried by said end supports and having their flanges extending. respectively upwardly and inwardly and a series of transversely extending shelf boards having their ends seated on the inwardly extending flanges and confined between. the upwardly extending flanges, certain of said shelf boards defining seating recesses therebetween and being each provided with a 1ongitudinal groove in one edge. tongues on the edges of adjacent hoards extending into said grooves and partition members extending between the shelf units with their edges engaged' in said recesses and seated on the tongues.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin.

HARRY L. BRADLEY. 

